It’s sheer coincidence that I’m covering two legendary icons from the 1950s back to back but It’s not coincidence that many icons like this awesome Porsche 550 Spyder Roadster were conceived in the roaring 50s and 60s. Inspired by the curves of the original and augmented by modern technologies- all new tweaked drivetrain, suspension plus 245 horsepower under the hood, the Spyder by RetroMade is as close as it gets to owning the classic without having to pay an arm, a leg and using an organ as collateral.
Porsche 550 Car Kit: RetroMade Spyder
Essentially a car kit that mounts on VW Beetles or Pontiac Feiro frame, what you get is the body, engine option and interior ; and depending on your engine- 132 hp and 245 hp with the Subaru Boxer option- true to original Porsche 550 power. From what I understand, because the 550 Car kit is relatively light, the 1.7L Alfa 33 engine provides just enough grunt with 132 horsepower that makes it move like a race car (albeit a vintage one).
Admittedly I haven’t had the chance to drive one but from what I understand, if you’re fitting the RetroMade Spyder kit on a Pontiac Fero chassis, the mid engine layout has pretty good handling characteristics. Customisable, the Spyder is available in standard and wide body with a variety of wheel, rim and steering wheel options; and though the RetroMade Spyder comes in a color of your choice (inside and out), I suggest: Vintage Metal Grey. [Shop here]
- RetroMade Spyder Car Kit
- RetroMade Spyder Car Kit
porsche550spyder.com
August 7, 2013
It’s strange that Dean ended up meeting his end in one on a regular 55 mph highway in southern California just as a test run. In the years following its production, this unique Spyder weighing only 550 kg or 1,213 lb, scored numerous victories on race circuits and in the road races so popular at the time. This year’s model has stayed true to its original
design, but those lights are by far the most impressive new feature on any vehicle
launched in 2009.